Dear Reader, my sincerest apologies for taking so long to post, some mischievous spirit has been having great fun at my expense! I appreciate your patience. The next chapter should be up soon, though I make no promises after that, I assure you I will endeavour to finish the story in a timely manner. Feedback is always welcome. Thank you.
It was four thirty when they landed at a private airfield located in the outskirts of Granada. The compound was situated within the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, about a 100km from the airport. Matthias had told Astor he knew the country, so instead of a driver she opted for a black Murcielago to speed them to their destination; they reached it in under an hour. The last fifteen minutes of the drive had been an uncomfortable ride along a bumpy forest dirt road and, even though the car was a four wheel drive Astor mentally regretted her conspicuous choice of vehicle.
There was no proper entrance to the compound per se, the road simply stopped where the forest began, though where it ended a few jeeps and motorbikes were parked by the wayside. Astor pulled up alongside them and as instructed hooted a few times.
Almost instantly two men appeared from the cover of the canopy. It was obvious they shared the same genetic pool; dark skin and hair, tall and toned, and their eyes were an unusual confluence of brown and amber. Although there was a strong familial resemblance there were discernable differences in their appearance. David, who was the elder by five years, was more rugged, his stubble was a few days old, his hair was scruffy, yet despite that there was an air of dignified gravitas to his bearing. While Eduardo, who was twenty five, was clean shaven and had a neat crop, his posture was relaxed and there was a gaiety to his disposition.
Astor jumped out of the car and ran towards them with Beauty and Matthias in tow. "Hi I'm Astor, you should be expecting us? How's Fran?" She gabbled.
"Yes, yes, don't worry. The shock caused 'er to faint but the doctor's been and at least medically she's okay." Eduardo answered in a thick accent.
"Let's go." Astor said anxious to see her friend.
"We don't usually allow outsiders on our land, in the circumstances we will allow you and the dog entry, but he," David paused to give Matthias a cautionary look, "is not welcome." He spoke coolly and in flawless English.
Astor started to protest but was instantly cut off by Matthias, "It's absolutely fine. I will wait here." He said without spite, and smiled benignly at the men who shifted uneasily back at him.
"You've come all this way and you're just going to stay here?" He looked at her passively. "Fine. Beauty- Come." She didn't have the energy to argue with his illogical compliance to their seemingly unjust demand; she just wanted to see Fran.
Astor found herself following the men along an inconspicuous footpath through a thicket of undergrowth and dense woodland. Another time she would have admired the beautiful green lushness of the environment, explored the various paths that sporadically appeared and meandered from the main one, but in her present state nothing could console her to Jack's murder; she kept her eyes glued forward, Beauty trailing by her side.
"I'm Ed and my brother is David. 'ow was your flight?"
"I don't mean to be rude but I'm not really in the mood for chit chat." She said wearily.
"We understand you must 'ave 'ad a terrible shock. It's not far, really." Eduardo replied sympathetically, "And I'm sorry for not allowing your friend in but 'is kind isn't welcome 'ere."
"What do you mean
his
kind?
German
? He's not a Nazi!" Astor snapped.
"Er, I, I ..." Eduardo horrified by the misunderstanding stammered to apologise.
"Excuse my brother," David swiftly interjected, Ed was always making pass away comments and putting his foot in it, "Fran is in the cabin just over there," he pointed to a small clearing about twenty meters away.
She looked through the trees and spied the basic wooden structure. "Thanks," she said before hot-footing it to the cabin.
The door was slightly ajar and she tentatively pushed it open. Fran was lying on a bed and appeared to be sleeping. Next to her was a wizened woman reclining in a chair. She looked up at Astor and smiled warmly. "You must be Astor, and that must be Beauty, Fran's told me all about you. I'm Nina, Fran's deceptively looking younger sister," the old woman chuckled to herself, "come in and pull up a chair."
Astor quietly picked up a chair from the corner and placed it on the opposing side to Nina, who was being greeted by Beauty. For a moment the dog rested her head on the corner of the bed and softly whimpered, her tail gently wagging, before she settled down next to Astor.
"How is she?" Astor asked in a hushed voice.
"The doctor gave her a sedative. She's distraught but she's strong. How are you coping?"
"Devastated. He was such a good man he didn't deserve this, not like this." She shook her head as she spoke, new tears formed and fell.
"I didn't know him very well but he was obviously a kind man, and my sister loved him very much. Carmen, the village girl you spoke with, said he was murdered, I'm sorry to ask, but how? Do the police know who did this?"
"Someone who wanted to hurt me." She quickly said her eyes not averting from the floor.
"What?" Nina looked at her with concern.
"Last night at the pub, this strange man was asking all these questions, he wanted to buy Beauty," she said in disgust, "and we got into an argument and I told him where to go... Jack warned me about him, he said he was dangerous, and Matthias thought he was dangerous too," she paused at the memory recalling the odd certainty at which Matthias had maligned the man, "and the killer left a message, naming Matthias and inferring to me," she sighed deeply "that my time will soon be done." Her eyes left the floor and met Nina's.
"You're safe here Astor," Nina assured her.
"It's not your fault!"
"Fran!" Astor jumped from her chair and settled on the bed hugging her tightly. Beauty too jumped at the woman's voice, and waggled her tail excitedly as she nuzzled her head under Fran's palm.
"I heard what you said; the man, Beauty, the message and Matthias. Where is he?" She asked as Astor released her hold.
"He's outside the entrance; we were told he wasn't welcome." She said with contempt.
Fran looked at her sister. "I would like to speak to him."
Nina simply nodded, stood up and left the cabin.
Astor hadn't given much consideration to Matthias' involvement but she was beginning to feel as if he was too good to be true, as if, there was something that everyone knew but her.
"He isn't what he seems." Fran said to her, quite aware how strange this must all seem.
"I...I slept with him." She blurted out.
"Oh my dear!" Fran said with alarm and clutched at her hand, "Did he hurt you?"
"Nooo!" She was aghast, "Quite the opposite. Fran what's going on?"
"Something hard to believe." She despondently answered. "I don't mean to be cryptic. They'll be here soon dear." She patted her hand and started to cry.
